Do I look different to you? Demonstrating authentic Christianity

Jamye Duncan

Published: Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at 11:38 a.m.

After a recent doctor's visit, my father was stopped by a lady while on the way to his car. She said, "You are a Christian, aren't you?" His reply was, "Yes, ma'am. How did you know that?" Her response was, "I knew it because of how you treated everybody in there."

My uncle recently passed away. After his death, my aunt was looking through his Bible and saw Proverbs 31 circled. Beside it my uncle had written, "This is my wife — I love her." The text he had circled describes a godly wife.

These examples, and several others in my recent history, have caused me to wonder what message I am sending to others by my behavior. Can people tell that I am a Christian? Do I look different to them?

I've worked in many churches over the years. Some churches are filled with the faces of people who have hope and peace. It is crystal clear in their expressions, in the way that they treat others, and in their outlook on life. These are not people who haven't suffered. Rather, they are people who have chosen to respond to their circumstances by clinging to the truth and hope of their faith as Christians.

On the flip side, I have also worked in churches where the people look as though worshipping God is some form of punishment.

What's the difference? Why do some Christians share the love of God so freely, while it appears that others barely know it exists? I believe the answer lies in authenticity. My grandmother used to say that going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than sticking your head in an oven would make you a biscuit.

It is irrefutable that church attendance does not equal Christianity. Some people might be offended by this summation and may claim that it is judgmental. The Bible does say we shouldn't judge others unless we want that same judgment placed on us. But it also says that we must discern right from wrong. In fact, we are instructed to call sin "sin" and to flee from it.

So how can we differentiate whether our Christianity is authentic or not? Christianity implicitly demonstrates some things. They are nonnegotiable. Christians are to love God above all else, and love their neighbor as themselves. Do we always do this? No. Are we always trying to do this? Yes.

Christians believe that we all need Jesus because we have all sinned. All of us have messed up. No one is unforgiveable, and no one is more righteous than another. Therefore, it is pretty simple. If we do not love God, if we do not love our neighbor, if we do not forgive, and if we do not share the love of Jesus with others, we aren't Christians. There is no way around this truth.

We have all heard the saying, "Practice what you preach." The irony of this statement is that we can't help but practice what we preach. Our very lives are a demonstration of our values whether we want others to know it or not. How we spend our time and our money demonstrates our priorities. How we treat others preaches to them the message of who we are.

In North Carolina, authenticity is never more clearly demonstrated than during basketball season. If you are a fan of a basketball team, everyone knows it. I have a favorite team, and I wear clothes demonstrating my allegiance, cheer very enthusiastically for them and enjoy the athleticism and competition. If you know me, you know I am a fan of a North Carolina team. Although I enjoy the team and the game a lot, it is not an essential part of my life. If my team loses, I may get teased a little, but it has no lasting impact on me.

So I have to wonder if people who know me are able to see what is most important in my life. Do they know that I am a Christian? Am I filled with love, and do I freely offer it to everyone? All Christians have a responsibility to ask ourselves if we are authentic, living our lives to honor God and serve others. Are our lives representations of our faith, or are we just sticking our heads in the oven attempting to look like biscuits?

Jamye Lanning Duncan has served as a minister and teacher in North Carolina for 17 years. She is a curriculum writer and holds a B.S. in elementary education, an MDiv in Christian education and is pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree from Gardner-Webb University. She is married to the Rev. J. Hunter Duncan and has two beautiful children.

<p>After a recent doctor's visit, my father was stopped by a lady while on the way to his car. She said, "You are a Christian, aren't you?" His reply was, "Yes, ma'am. How did you know that?" Her response was, "I knew it because of how you treated everybody in there." </p><p>My uncle recently passed away. After his death, my aunt was looking through his Bible and saw Proverbs 31 circled. Beside it my uncle had written, "This is my wife — I love her." The text he had circled describes a godly wife. </p><p>These examples, and several others in my recent history, have caused me to wonder what message I am sending to others by my behavior. Can people tell that I am a Christian? Do I look different to them? </p><p>I've worked in many churches over the years. Some churches are filled with the faces of people who have hope and peace. It is crystal clear in their expressions, in the way that they treat others, and in their outlook on life. These are not people who haven't suffered. Rather, they are people who have chosen to respond to their circumstances by clinging to the truth and hope of their faith as Christians.</p><p>On the flip side, I have also worked in churches where the people look as though worshipping God is some form of punishment.</p><p>What's the difference? Why do some Christians share the love of God so freely, while it appears that others barely know it exists? I believe the answer lies in authenticity. My grandmother used to say that going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than sticking your head in an oven would make you a biscuit.</p><p>It is irrefutable that church attendance does not equal Christianity. Some people might be offended by this summation and may claim that it is judgmental. The Bible does say we shouldn't judge others unless we want that same judgment placed on us. But it also says that we must discern right from wrong. In fact, we are instructed to call sin "sin" and to flee from it. </p><p>So how can we differentiate whether our Christianity is authentic or not? Christianity implicitly demonstrates some things. They are nonnegotiable. Christians are to love God above all else, and love their neighbor as themselves. Do we always do this? No. Are we always trying to do this? Yes.</p><p>Christians believe that we all need Jesus because we have all sinned. All of us have messed up. No one is unforgiveable, and no one is more righteous than another. Therefore, it is pretty simple. If we do not love God, if we do not love our neighbor, if we do not forgive, and if we do not share the love of Jesus with others, we aren't Christians. There is no way around this truth. </p><p>We have all heard the saying, "Practice what you preach." The irony of this statement is that we can't help but practice what we preach. Our very lives are a demonstration of our values whether we want others to know it or not. How we spend our time and our money demonstrates our priorities. How we treat others preaches to them the message of who we are. </p><p>In North Carolina, authenticity is never more clearly demonstrated than during basketball season. If you are a fan of a basketball team, everyone knows it. I have a favorite team, and I wear clothes demonstrating my allegiance, cheer very enthusiastically for them and enjoy the athleticism and competition. If you know me, you know I am a fan of a North Carolina team. Although I enjoy the team and the game a lot, it is not an essential part of my life. If my team loses, I may get teased a little, but it has no lasting impact on me.</p><p>So I have to wonder if people who know me are able to see what is most important in my life. Do they know that I am a Christian? Am I filled with love, and do I freely offer it to everyone? All Christians have a responsibility to ask ourselves if we are authentic, living our lives to honor God and serve others. Are our lives representations of our faith, or are we just sticking our heads in the oven attempting to look like biscuits? </p><p>Jamye Lanning Duncan has served as a minister and teacher in North Carolina for 17 years. She is a curriculum writer and holds a B.S. in elementary education, an MDiv in Christian education and is pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree from Gardner-Webb University. She is married to the Rev. J. Hunter Duncan and has two beautiful children.</p>